Burnes Merges with Nielsen Bainbridge

July 9, 2012, HFN Staff

PARAMAS, N.J.-Photo frame maker Burnes, formerly known as Burnes of Boston, has merged with Nielsen Bainbridge, a leading producer of professional picture framing.

The merger follows Nielsen Bainbridge's 2011 acquisition of Pinnacle Frames & Accents, an Austin, Texas-based supplier of photo frames and albums to the mass market. Each company will retain its marketing and sales teams. Distribution of Burnes products will be relocated to the Nielsen Bainbridge /Pinnacle distribution center in Pocahontas, Ark. Day-to-day operations will be unaffected, Burnes said in a statement.

"Burnes is a strong, prestigious brand--an excellent complement to our custom framing business," said Bob Kroll, Nielsen Bainbridge CEO. "The strategic benefits of joining established brands like Nielsen Bainbridge, Burnes and Pinnacle--each a leader in its channel of trade--will not only enable us to share intelligence and core competencies, but also support our mutual growth in a radically

changed marketplace that has become increasingly competitive."

Kroll said the merger of Nielsen Bainbridge, Burnes and Pinnacle marks the return of the "powerhouse frame corporation, something the industry has not seen in close to a decade." Together, the three companies have "unsurpassed buying, sourcing, design, manufacturing, and management capabilities.

"We understand the market, retailers' needs, how to execute, and how to deliver," Kroll said. "We see this merger as an opportunity to provide leadership in a category that desperately needs innovation and growth."